For those of you wondering just what the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is, what it looks like and what our scientists do, we offer up a slideshow tour. This was created with interns and research fellows in mind. It doesn’t capture all of SERC, but it does include shots of scientists, worms and blue crabs.

Interested in applying for an internship? The summer deadline has passed, but fall applications should be postmarked by June 1, 2010.

Find out more about SERC’s research and training opportunities on SERC’s Web site.

For many SERC scientists, field research comes to a halt in the winter. Some manage to head off to the tropics to investigate invasive species or mangroves, but not photobiologist Pat Neale. Neale and his assistants are spending a good part of their time these days in his lab with the Beast.

Photobiologist Pat Neale wears eyeglasses that protect him from the Beast's UV rays.

The Beast does not bite, but if you look at it the wrong way it will hurt you. In fact it can char your corneas if you’re not careful. That’s because it reflects and filters ultraviolet light. UV rays are invisible to the naked eye, but are high in energy and potentially damaging to animals and plants. As a photobiologist Neale studies how UV rays affect aquatic environments and the organisms that live in them.Click to continue »